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Abstract

The Purdue Kenya Partnership (PKP) has been working in Eldoret, Kenya since 2004, providing pharmaceutical care to patients in the Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care (AMPATH) program. PKP incorporates students into its work through the 8-week advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) offered to last-year student pharmacists. The program has 24 student participants each year. Student participants go through an interview process, and if selected then participate in a 2-credit-hour elective course that prepares them to practice in this environment. This elective discusses culture shock and ways to overcome it while in the country. However, over the years, it has been observed that when many students return home after, they have some challenges adapting back. Upon further investigation and discussion with these students, it was identified that they suffered from reverse culture shock. Reverse culture shock is described as the negative effects experienced while readapting to the environment of one’s own culture after having spent time abroad. It is a serious condition that if left unaddressed can lead to anxiety, trouble in school or work, and relationship difficulties. Study abroad programs address the culture shock when traveling overseas, but many do not address the reverse culture shock. This article gives a detailed account of one student’s experience with reverse culture shock after participating in the PKP APPE. It also details a plan aimed at helping address reverse culture shock for study abroad students.